Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-03
WHHE HOUSE PLANTS.
Mrs. Cleveland StFolling Among the Additions
to the Conservatory

WHITE HOUSE PLANTS.
Mrs. Cleveland StFolling Among the Additions
to the Conservatory.
Among the favorite pastimes of the
young wife of the president during her
hours of leisure from the demands of her
social duties Is q visit to the conserva-
tories Of the executive mansion, some
times alone and again with some calling
lady friend, to enjoy the selected beauties
of the plant life of the luxurious and
more genial chimes of the warmer zones.
Since their internal reconstruction and
renovation last summer, writes Wash
ington CORES pondent to the Philadelphia
Times, the Conservatives, under the in
telligent care Of the experimenting flor
lst, are among the most attractive fea-
lures Of the executive mansion. The
main conservatory, which is entered
from the promenade corridor and the
state dining room, is 165 feet long and
4S feet wide, with sides and lofty
double pitch roof of glass. At the fur
ther end is wing so feet long by so feet
wide. promenade four feet wide and
nearly 500 feet in length, paved with arti-
fetal stone, extends around the conserva-
tories between the slate benches, upon
which rests in pots the rarest plants, rep
resentlng almost every variety of size,
form, and color OF foliage and flower, and
affords the convenience of delightful
and pleasing stroll among the charming
fora of the ATTITUDES near the equator.
The arrangement of the plants is with
reference to variety of foliage and colors.
as the Towering plants are just coming
into bloom the effect is very fine, being
suggestive of the voluptuous vegetation
of the tropics. Ths ladies of the execu-
tive household lind their visits particu-
larly interesting at this time. The
collection is almost exclusively for dec
oratlve purposes. Tt embraces palms,
crotons, dracenas, enthuriums, azaleas,
carnations, lilies, camellias, roses and
long list of the other multitaoinous var
ieties of plants attractive on account Of
their foliage Or valuable fer cut flowers.
The plants number about fifty thousand.
In the collection are many varieties of
value for their historic association or
rarity. The finest specimen of the cyca
revoluta or sage palm, the largest in the
United States, was brought from the
West Indias by wealthy ship-owner in
wealthy Baltimore and pre-
sentedted to Gen. Washington, who
placed it in his conservatory at Mount
Vernon. After his death il passed into
other hands, and when sold, about thirty
years ago, was purchased for the execu-
tive mansion. There are also fine speci-
mems of the birds nest fern of Australia,
one hundred varieties of theamaryllis,
many now in bloom, several of the anthe-
rum grande, and the beautiful pkoine-
cOphorum, or seckslleranum a variety of
palm.
The latest novelty is the enthurium
ventricolum, new plant reared from a
seed found secreted among the roots of an
orchid brought from Brazil. This develo-
ped into large plant, with slender point
ed leaves three feet long. The flower is
large and of a creamy white hue, spotted
and tinted with maroon inside, and is as
fragrant as the magnolia grandifora. It
buds at the base of each one of the many
leaves which form a sort Of crown. There
is also a cyca from the sandwich islands,
sent as a present by Mrs. Comfy when her
husband was minister resident at the court
of that insuiar kingdom in the solitudes
of the Pacific. The acacia bubexence in
bloom Is also very beautiful. During the
drawing rooms of Mrs. Cleveland and the
levees of the president the Conservatives
are thrown open to the visiting public, and
are greatly enjoyed by the ladies. The
most interest. ng features of the collection
are the orchids or air plants. Their deli
cate flowers and tints usually call forth
rapturous admiration. The collection of
orchids is not the largest nor the finest,
that rank being held by the collection of
MIR. Corning, of Albany, the value of which
is put down at S15O,OOO. A greenhouse
has been devoted to the propagation and
culture of these rare and curious rep
resentatives of the plant kingdom. Every
season therefore finds new acquisitions to
the white house possessions in that
branch, and which some day will take
leading place.
The florist of the executive mansion
mansion, who has brought the conserva-
tories up to their present condition, is
Henry Pfster, Swiss, who learned his
art among flowers and plants under
Huesserman, the superintendent of the
Conservatives and gardens of Rechberg,
belonging to the palace of the opulent
Banker Schulteness, of Enrich. He fol-
lowed his art in Germany, France, and
England, and came to the United States
In 1872, and became florist on the estate
IN the suburbs of Cincinnati. His skill
having attracted attention, he was placed
In charge of the Conservatives of the ex-
ecutlve mansion in 1877, and since that
time has made great improvements in
the buildings, collection of plants, and
their arrangements. Out of the annual
of $4,000 the conservator
les have become a source of just pride
TO the occupants of the executive man
sion and the visiting public on social &C
casion.
The superb floral displays at the state
dinners and levees are the growth of the
Conservatives, fashioned irto decorative
arrangements and forms by the florist
In charge. The tables at the state dinners
during the present seasons have been
In floral decorative art, and
have elected the highest encominums
from those honored as guests On these
high state occasions of official dining.
During the hotter months of the sum
mer the large plants are taken from the
and placed on the lawns
the mansion, producing an effect
suggestive of the luxur1ant growth and
scenic beauty OF nature in the equatorial
belt around the earth.